Shock-absorbing mechanism



March 27, 192s. 1,664,312

J. F. OCONNOR SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM' Original Filed Oct. l. 1924 2 Shoots-Sheet 1 March 27, 1928,

J. F. OCONNOR SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM original Filed oct. 1. 1924 2 Sheets-Shout 2 Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO W. H. MINER, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SHOCK-ABSORBING MECHANISM.

Application filed October 1, 1924, Serial VNo. 740,934. Renewed November 28, 1927.

This invention relates to improvements in shock absorbing mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a shock absorbing mechanism of high capacity adapted for railway draft riggings, hav* ing initial, relatively light resistance and relatively higher capacity during the remainder of the compression stroke.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shock absorbing mechanism of the character indicated, of the double i ended type, including relatively movable main followers, a friction shell and a plurality of groups of friction shoes coacting with the shell, wherein the shoes are forced against the friction surfaces of the shell by front and rear wedge means resisted by springs interposed respectively between the latterl and the front and rear main followers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly and fully appear il'romthe description and claims hereinafter following.v A

In the drawings, vforming a. part of this specilication, Figure 1 is a longitudinal, horizontal, sectional view of a railway draft rigging, showing my improvements in connection therewith. Figures 2 and 3 are transverse, vertical, sectional views of the shock absorbing mechanism proper, corresponding respectively 'to the lines 2 2 and 3-3 of Figure 1. And Figure t is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view, partly broken away, corresponding substantially to the line lr-4i of Figure 1, with the springs omitted. Y

In said drawings, 10-10 indicate channel shaped center or draft sills of a railway car underframe to the inner faces of which are secured front stop lugs 11 and rear stop lugs 12. The inner portion of the draw ar is designated by 13, to which is secured a hooded yoke 14. Disposed within the yoke is the shock absorbing mechanism proper, in-y cluding front and' rear follower acting members. The movable parts of the draft rigging are supported in operative position by a detachable saddle plate 15.

The improved shock absorbing mechanism proper, as shown, comprises broadly, front and rear follower casings A--A; a central friction shell B; front and rear wedges CC; two groups of friction wedge shoes "TD-mD; tandem arranged twin spring resistance elements E-Eg and a pair of retainer bolts F-F.

The front and rear follower casings A are of like construction, each being of hollow boxlike form and open at its inner end. Each follower casing comprises spaced, longitudinally disposed top and bottom walls 16-16, spaced, longitudinally disposed side walls 17-17, and a vertically disposed, transverse end wall 18. The end wall 18 has a pair of inwardlyvprojecting hollow bosses 19-19 disposed midway between the top and bottom of eachV casing and equally spaced on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the mechanism.A The side walls of each casing A are cut out-centrally as indicated at 20 to accommodate the outer sides of the outermost coils of the spring resistance elements E.

The friction shell B, which isalso of rectangulail box-like form, is open at its opposite ends and has spaced, longitudinally disposed, horizontal top and bottom walls 21-21 and spaced, longitudinally disposed side walls 22-22. Midway between the ends of the shell B, the side walls are inwardly offset as shown at 23. The top and bot-tom walls 21 of the shell are provided with opposed groups of friction surfaces, each group being composed of two sets, the surfaces of one set being designa-ted by 24C and those of the other set by 25. The friction` surfaces of each group are preferably eight in number, there being four surfaces 24 and four surfaces 25. Y The opposed surfaces 24 converge slightly rearwardly of the mechanism, while the opposed surfaces 25 converge forwardly thereof.

The front and rear wedge members C are of likeconstruction, each being in the form of a bolclr having a. pair of inwardly converging wedge faces 26-26 at the inner side thereof, the wedge faces 2G being adapted to respectively cooperate with the two groups of friction wedge shoes D. Each wedge member C has laterally extending flanges 27-27 on the opposite sides thereof, thereby providing a relatively wide, outer bearing surface adapted to coact with the corre'- sponding set of twin springs E. It will be fill herein illustrated are preferably disposed atA the top and -bottomsides of the shell respectively. The friction shoes composing each group are Iof like construction, each being in the *form of La relatively heavy platecut away; at the innerfand outer :ends to ,provide wedge faces 126 correspondingly inclined to and adapted yto lcooperate -with the correspondingiwedgefaces 26 at rthe same side of thefront and rearl wedge members. ,Each

shoe l), Ihas an extension 127 at one fend,

thereof, which `is in fthe form of: an elon gated iarm lor. finger Vand is-adapted to Acoac't l.with vthe ycorresponding main .follower member A. The friction wedge shoes .of each group, are preferably 'eight in inumber., four of vthe shoes-offeacli group cooperating with the corresponding friction-surfaces 2li ofthe `shell B, each shoe having an 'elongated, 'friction surface 124, cooperating v with onewof: the fac.es2el=. The remaining foury shoiesof eachgroup cooperate with the corresponding friction surfaces 2.5, each being provided with elongated friction lsurfaces 125.'for that;pur-pose.` The shoescooperating with the respective friction surfaces 2.4 and 25.1are A4reyerselyarranged, that iis, the :former have their arms 127 forwardly disposedr and the-latter having their arms 127 rearwardly 'disposed` The parts are sogproportioned that .when the mechanism isiin normal, full release ',positionptheinner ends ofthe front. and u'earxfollowerl casings are slightly spaced frein-the `front` and|rear`ends of therespecti-ve arms 12,7, asfclearly indicated in 4Fig unesy 1 and? 4. In `this conneetiom it Ais pointedtout .that/fthe :shell B Lis vadapted Vto teleseopically.receive the inner .ends of `the front and vrear 4follower 'casings Shoulders 28;.areiprovidedron'the top, bottomiand sidewalls'of each easing A which-are :norm-ally spaced from the corresponding outerfend-of the friction shell B and adapted to engage thefla'ttcr when the `mechanism is fully compressed to limit vthe yrelative movement of theffront and' rear follower `members and casing. vA. Zhen the 'mechanism is fully compressed, thelca'sing A together with v.the frontl'rand `rear follower 'members act as a solid` stop'column to i directly transmit y'the load yto thefcorresponding stop lugs'of'the draft J-sills. Y Ther tandem spring resistance element iconsistfof twinarranged front and rearispring units, each unit ineludingfan` inner. relatively light coil bearing at its outer end on the corresponding boss 19 of one of the follower casings A and bearing on lits yinner endonthe corresponding wedge member Ef The inner coil vis .surrounded by an outer, relatively heavier coil having its opposite ends bearing directly on the wall 18"of the correspondingicasing'and Ithe outer sur/face of fthe corresponding wedge member C.

nThe retainer 'bolts are disposed at oppo- Asite sides of the longitudinalpaxis of the mechanism and each bolt has its opposite ends `.anchored in the corresponding :hollow boss 19 of thefront and ,rear follower zcas.-

ings A. The shank 'of each bolt-.eXtends through the inner coils of .the frontend rear springiresistance `elements :and aligned .fopenings in the spring follower iacting wedge members G. The .retainer fbolts Fserve to maintain the mechanisinwf uniform, coverall length 'and also hold 'the parts.l assembled under :initial` compression.

When `the .parts are in full neleasev posi.;

tion, the `expansive action lof the front and rear spring resistance .elements @maintains'o v all lof/the parts ,properlycentereeh the. wedge faces26 of the frontend rear wedge'members coactingwith the ,frontend rear Wedge faces ofthe twozgroups .of sheeszto properly center the latter. The groupsiof shoes are held assembled 'between the offset portions 23 ofthe side walls 22 of the shell Aiand guided therebetween :for relative sliding movement, and for movement withreference to the friction surfaces of the shell. connection, `it will'be notedfthat .alternate shoes D ofthe two groups cooperate ,with

the; front follower to abe moved rearwardly thereby, and thefremaining shoesfof the twinl groups cooperate with therear follower-.Ito be movedforwardly thereby, yforming separate and-independent.spring and friction units, givingthe-.whole idevice a combined capacity doublethat of 'a singlefset;

As wear r occurs onk the various kfrictionand wedge faces,lcompensation therefor is lhad.

d ue to theexpansiveiaction of the, frontand rear sets of twin springs which as hereinbefore .pointed out are under initial compression, suitable clearance 4for this ,purpose being left between the inner ends .of the' s Jrinfrfolloweractinrr lwed einembers C.

Theoperation of the mechanism,A assuming an inward orbuflingimovement. of the draw-A bar, 1s as follows: lAs the drawbar moves rearwardly the -front follower 'casing AdsV forced rearwardly also, ycompressing :the front pair of twin spring resistanceelements E and throughlthe front wedge member,I C, the two groups of friction 1Vshoesl) andthe rear wedge member C, inturn-,compressing therear Yspring resistance elementsE.` The two wedges Gand the twogroups of shoes D will with'the shell B,thus"beforced.rear wardly substantially as a unit, and due to llo the `friction between the shoes D and the friction shell B the latter will be forced rearwardly in unison with the shoes. During this action, the front and rear sets of twin springs will be substantially equally compressed and function in the manner of atandem set of twin springs. rIhis action will continue until the inner ends of the top and bottoni walls of the front follower' casing A engage the projecting arms 127 of the wedge friction shoes D cooperating with the friction surface 24 of the shell A,

and the front ends of the top and bottom wedges. The wedges C will be thus moved apart, further compressing the front and rear spring resistance elements E. Due to the converging relation of the opposed sets of friction surfaces 24 and 25, a differential action will be had, thereby effecting an increased rate of movement of the wedge members, still further compressing the main spring resistance elements. Y

As will be evident, the resistance during the last described portion of the compression stroke is greatly increased over that had during the initial action of the mechanism inasmuch as each set of twin springs is compressed` from both ends, each set having an amountv of compression equal to nearly full action of the device, and to the resistance thus offered is added the frictional resistance between the various shoes D and the friction surfaces of the shell; Relative movement of the front and rearfollower casings and the shell A will be limited by engagement of the shoulders of the former with the outer ends of the latter as hereinbefore pointed out.

During draft the action of the mechanism is substantially the same as that hereinbefore described, the only difference being thatthe movement is reversed, the rear casing A being moved toward the front follower casing which is held stationary.

Upon reduction of the actuating force, the springs E act to immediately force the casings A apart.v As the casings are moved out of engagement with the corresponding wedge friction shoes D, the wedging pressure is'reduced, thereby permitting the springs to restore all of the parts to normal position. It will be evident that the restoration of the front andvrear casings is effected independently of any releasing action of the friction wedge system and that therefore in case the friction wedge system should become stuck and not. release properly, the spring elements would still be available to absorb the next succeeding shock to which the mechanism is subjected.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear follower acting elements, relatively movable toward and away from each other; of tandem arranged springs interposed between said follower elements; a friction shell interposed between said follower elements, said shell having opposed, interior friction surfaces; a plurality of friction shoes cooperating with said friction surfaces, said shoes being arranged in groups on opposite sides of the axis of the mechanism, certain of the shoes of each group being adapted to be actuated by one of said follower elements and the remaining shoes rof said groups being adapted to be actuated by the other follower element; and front and rear wedges coopeating with said shoes, said wedges being interposed between said tandem springs.

2. In a :friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear follower acting members, relatively movable toward and away from cach other; of a longitudinally disposed friction member having a plurality of opposed friction surfaces, said surfaces being disposed in groups at opposite sides of the mechanism; spring resistance elements interposed between said follower members, one of said elements being associated with each follower member; a plurality of friction elements cooperating with each follower member, each friction element. engaging one of said friction surfaces; and spreading means interposed between said springs and coacting with said friction elements. i

3.A In a friction vshock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear follower acting members, relatively movable toward and away from cach other; of tandem arranged spring resistance elements interposed between said follower members; a plurality of opposed, relatively movable friction shoes interposed between said follower members and adapted to be actuated thereby; a friction shell interposed between said follower members, said shell having a plurality of friction surfaces at one side of t-he longitudinal aXis of the mechanism cooperating with certain of said shoes, and a plurality of friction surfaces on the opposite side of said axis cooperating with the remaining. shoes; `andrwedge .means interposed. lilletweenA ysaid 4tandem springs .and cooperating .withsaid frictionshoes.v y

4. In a friction lshock absorbing mecha# nisin, .the combination with front and :rear follower acting members, relatively vmovable toward and-.away from Veach other; of tandeinarranged.springsinterposed between said follower members; a frictionshell interposed between said `follower members, ysaid shell having interiorffriction surfaces; andnieans interposed between said .springs actuated .by the relative movement of said follower mein bers .forforcingsaid'springs apart, saidmeans including -a..plurality or intercalated friction-shoe elements havingfriction surfaces cooperating ,with .the shell Afriction surfaces, Saidishoespbeing.adapted to be moved relatively to leach. lother .byv saidfollower members, anda pair. of wedges cooperating with saidl shoesyeacli lwedge member engaging kone [go l Qf'saidsPr-ngs Y i '1 5'. '.In :a friction .shock absorbing iiiechanisin, the combinationt with front and rear followers, relatively movable toward `and away r'from .each other; offspringf resistance elements interposedV between said followers,`

one.of said .spring elements being associated with each4 follower; a ,plurality of wedge friction Vslices coacting with each follower, the yshoes coacting. with one followei.I being alternated with the shoes ooacting with the otheri'follower; wedge pressure transmitting members coacting-with Yeach set of alternate r shoes,.each `of said wedge pressure transmitting jmembers coacting with one of said springs gand a rectangular friction shell-havifng. two sets of opposedr friction surfaces on two walls thereof cooperatingl with said shoes. Y

V6. In a .friction shock ,absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear followers; `of-afriction shell interposed between said followers,.said shell having two 1 groups ofilongitudinally disp osed,`.opposed,

interior .friction surfaces,said groups coinprising two Asets `of .opposed friction .sur-

. faces, .the fopposed surfaces of one of .said

sets converging forwardly of the vmechanism and the .opposed .surf-aces yof. the other set converging rearwardly of .said mechanism, adjacent surfacesof each group being reversely inclined and alternate surfaces ,of each .group being-.similarly inclined; friction means interposed :between said followers, said means including `wedge ineinbei-sV and a set offriction shoes coactingwith .each set of opposed yfriction surfaces,leach set of .shoes being actuatedby one of saidfollowers and vcooperating with one of said wedge inembers;`..and yielding, movement-,resistingmeansinterposed between each. wedge member and .corresponding follower .acting member. i

7. In a .friction shock absorbing mecha- Lia-0.4.1313

mism, th@ Combination with iront .andfreer` followers; of a rectangular frictionshell` interposed `between said followers, `.said .she

having two :sets of opposed, ,longitudinally arranged, interior friction surfaces, theopposed'frictionsurfaces of one setconverging rearwardlyof .the mechanism and the opposed surfaces 4of .the other .set convengf ing forwardly of .saidmechanisin and surfaces of fone set .being alternated with the .surfaces of ,the other set; a groii'p wedge lfriction shoes coolgerating with one of said setsof friction ,surfaces ofthe .shell and adapted Itoloe actuated bythe firent lower; a `second group of ,wedge friction Shoes cooperating with .the remainmgsetnf friction .surfaces Vof 4the `shell ,and .adapted to be actuated by the rear, follower; a member cooperating with .each fgroup shoes; and front and rear elements @Generating Wth--$e1diteilgamemfz bers.V

8. In a friction shock absolbmgpmepm msm 'the Combination with :front ,and

follower acting casingy ineinbe'rsya -rectanguf lar .shell interposed .between said Lineinbers and telescopically vreceiving la portion of each of thel latter, .said shell ,havingaplurality of opposedfinterior .friction .,surpfces at the top .and lbottom thereof; tandeml :ar-`

ranged springs interposed between saidfoL surfaces and a wedge engagingsaidshoes Y and cooperating .with .said last.; named spring.

9. .In "a .friction shock absorbinglineclianism, the lcombination with lfront and :rear follower .acting ineens; of a, friction V'shell interposed between said follower acting meangsaidshell having two opposed series of longitudinally disposed, interiorgliriqtion surfaces, alternate Asurfaces of ,each .Series diverging .rearwardly ,with .reference to .the longitudinal axis of the mechanism andthe remaining surface ofeach series divergingy forwardly `with .reference to .said axsjtwo sets of friction shoeslcooperating with the; shell friction surfaces, alternate .shoes of said sets cooperating with .alternate friction faces of said two series `and adaptedto be niovedby, one of ,said follower acting means, the remaining shoes of saidsets'.beingnetn ated by the other follower acting meansland cooperating with the remaining frictionsurfaces of the shell spreading. 'L ineens .cooper-` atingwith alternate shoes; .a second ,spreading means cooperating .with the fremaining.

shoes; and a spring resistance element inter# posed between each follower acting means and the corresponding spreading means.

10. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear follower acting means; of a rectangular friction shell interposed between said follower acting means, said shell having a plurality of longitudinally disposed, interior friction surfaces; tandem arranged twin springs interposed between said follower acting means; a spring follower cooperating with each of said twin springs, each of said spring followers having Wedge faces; two

with the shell friction surfaces, alternate shoes of said two series cooperating with the wedge faces of one of said spring followers and the remaining shoes of said two series cooperating with the other spring'follower; means for transmitting the actuating force from one of said main follower acting means to said alternate shoes; and means for transmitting the actuating force from the other follower acting means to the remaining shoes.

In witness that I claim the foregoinff I have hereunto subscribed my name this th JOHN F. OCONNOR.

day of September, 1924. series of friction wedge shoes cooperating 

